When 5-year-old Ezra Toczek from Alden, New York, confronted problems of progressive liver illness, his former daycare instructor, Carissa Fisher, grew to become an surprising hero. The 21-year-old instructor and member of the U.S. Air Drive selflessly donated a portion of her liver, giving Ezra a second likelihood at life. The lifesaving transplant was carried out by scientific groups at Hassenfeld Kids’s Hospital at NYU Langone and the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.
On Might 25, 2024, Carissa stunned the Toczek household by knocking on their door with an indication that learn, “Ezra, would you wish to share my liver?” The right donor match despatched her on a trajectory that might save Ezra’s life, with the profitable transplant going down August 7, 2024, at NYU Langone Well being.
From foster care to household: Ezra’s early struggles with liver challenges
In 2019, Karen and Ron Toczek welcomed Ezra, at simply 7 months outdated, into their house as a foster youngster. Ezra suffered extreme liver harm at start, which brought about bile duct blockages and impaired liver operate. Pediatric surgeon Kaveh Vali, MD, in Buffalo, New York, referred Ezra to Adam Griesemer, MD, surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at Hassenfeld Kids’s Hospital and director of NYU Langone’s Residing Donor Liver Transplant Program, to discover potential options.
“I am unable to think about not having had that point with the nurses and medical doctors … his transplant crew. It is simply been actually unimaginable,” says Ezra’s mother, Karen.
Karen drove six hours all the way down to New York Metropolis, the place Dr. Griesemer carried out a surgical process to reconstruct and open Ezra’s bile ducts, offering him with a number of years of regular liver operate. “We basically needed to purchase Ezra a while and permit him develop earlier than contemplating a liver transplant,” stated Dr. Griesemer. “It was by no means a query of if he would want a brand new liver, however when.”
Over time, Ezra grew to become a part of the Toczeks’ giant household, which incorporates seven organic youngsters and different foster kids. In 2022, the couple formally adopted Ezra, a spunky and deeply beloved addition to their family and neighborhood.
Ezra’s hepatologist in Alden stayed in shut contact with Dr. Griesemer and Jennifer M. Vittorio, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at Hassenfeld Kids’s Hospital, to watch and keep watch over Ezra’s liver situation as he continued to develop.
By February 2024, Ezra’s situation had worsened, and he was identified with end-stage liver illness. Signs reminiscent of extreme itching, liver scarring, and fatigue made day by day life troublesome. “Ezra was having hassle sleeping and could not operate like a typical 5-year-old regardless of maximal medical therapies. It was clear that we would have liked to checklist him for a liver transplant,” stated Dr. Vittorio.
A knock on the door that modified all the pieces
Karen turned to social media to share her son’s story, hoping to discover a donor. “When it grew to become a actuality that Ezra wanted a transplant, I could not assist however assume, ‘How are we going to get this organ?’ Ezra’s care crew talked about all potential choices, together with a residing donor. But it surely was so overwhelming at first,” stated Karen.
Carissa, who had been Ezra’s daycare instructor years earlier than, noticed the submit and instantly felt referred to as to assist. With out notifying the household, she utilized to donate a portion of her liver by means of the Liver Transplant Program at NYU Langone’s Transplant Institute. “I did not hesitate for a second,” stated Carissa. “If I have been 5 years outdated, I might need somebody to do it for me. I knew I might assist, and I used to be decided to take action.”
Carissa underwent an array of checks to substantiate she’d be candidate and that it will be secure for her to donate a portion of her liver. The checks revealed she was an ideal match.
On the day she stunned the Toczek household with the information, Karen recalled, “it caught us off guard and it took a number of moments to course of what was taking place. The reduction of not ready on the donor checklist was a present past phrases.”
A transplant that restored hope
On August 7, Carissa underwent a minimally invasive robotic surgical procedure at NYU Langone, led by Karim J. Halazun, MD, surgical director of the Grownup Liver Transplant Program, to take away 30 p.c of her liver for donation. “NYU Langone is likely one of the few transplant facilities in the USA capable of carry out any such process robotically,” defined Dr. Halazun. “Our cutting-edge strategies enable donors to heal extra rapidly and return to regular life.”
Ezra’s transplant was efficiently carried out by Dr. Griesemer and pediatric transplant surgeon Bernardo Daniel Campos, MD. “We solely want a small portion of Carissa’s liver for Ezra, as it is going to develop alongside along with his physique,” stated Dr. Griesemer.
The liver is the one organ that may regenerate and heal itself over time. “It is fairly unimaginable that in simply six months, my liver could have totally grown again,” stated Carissa. “Not many individuals understand that.”
Regardless of some problems throughout restoration, Ezra regained his energetic character. “His power, temper, and urge for food returned nearly instantly,” stated Karen. Carissa was capable of go to Ezra within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Hassenfeld Kids’s Hospital throughout restoration, the place she was greeted by his laughter, smiles, and jokes.
Ezra shaped sturdy bonds with the care crew, together with licensed youngster life specialist Molly McClure and pediatric liver transplant social employee Katie Sclafani, who helped present emotional assist through the course of and restoration whereas guaranteeing a clean transition house. These companies are supplied by Sala Institute for Little one and Household Centered Care.
A brand new starting and reunion at “Ezra’s hospital”
By September 20, Ezra was discharged to a close-by Ronald McDonald Home to proceed follow-up care. On November 1, he returned house to his household. “Ezra has caught up on his progress and improvement, and he is only a outstanding youngster. The progress he is made is phenomenal,” stated Dr. Vittorio.
Karen felt immense reduction after bringing Ezra house. “He is again at college, hanging out with mates and taking part in along with his siblings. He is doing all of the issues he likes to do, and we all know it is going to solely get higher from right here. He has large goals and plans.”
Ezra shortly returned to Hassenfeld Kids’s Hospital on November 11 for a reunion with the multidisciplinary crew that took care of him, the place he noticed Carissa for the primary time for the reason that transplant. “Ezra loves seeing all his finest mates at ‘his’ hospital,” stated Karen. “He was unhappy to go away and definitely not afraid to come back again.”
Molly McClure, the kid life specialist, added, “It brings us a lot pleasure to have a good time Ezra’s new starting along with his favourite issues—dinosaurs and slime—and with all of the individuals who helped and saved his life alongside the way in which.”
Carissa and the Toczek household keep in shut contact and sit up for seeing Ezra proceed to thrive, because of Carissa’s life-changing present of organ donation. They hope their story encourages others to think about turning into organ donors.
“I’m endlessly grateful to Carissa for giving Ezra this present of life,” stated Karen.
“The reward of realizing you’ve got helped somebody in want is extremely fulfilling,” stated Carissa. “I hope extra folks will contemplate turning into donors. It is a choice that may actually change lives.”
